Image data processing method for ink jet printer - Patent 1294176

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(11)

EP 1 294 176 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	04.08.2004 Bulletin 2004/32

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	19.03.2003 Bulletin 2003/12

(21)	Application number: 02256222.7

(22)	Date of filing: 09.09.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: H04N 1/52

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

13.09.2001 JP 2001277553

(71)	Applicant: KONICA CORPORATION
	Tokyo (JP)

(72)	Inventor:
	Hiramoto, Kenichiro, c/o Konica Corporation Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-8505 (JP)

(74)	Representative: Rees, Alexander Ellison et al
	Urquhart-Dykes & Lord LLP 30 Welbeck Street London W1G 8ER London W1G 8ER (GB)

(54)	Image data processing method for ink jet printer

(57) An image data processing method for ink jet printer having the following steps:

(1) obtaining an allowable amount of ink in accordance with inputted image data and characteristics of a medium for forming an image,
(2) selecting an ink jetting domain and fixing the amount of ink in the selected ink jetting domain at a specified value, on the basis of the allowable amount of ink, and
(3) practicing a quantization processing with the amount of ink in the ink jetting domain fixed at the specified value.